Genome sequencing has confirmed the latest Queensland case of COVID-19 (a cleaner at a Queensland quarantine hotel), has the UK variant.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young has enforced restrictions to vulnerable facilities in Greater Brisbane as a precaution, while contact tracing efforts continue.
‘We’re taking a very cautious approach with this case, now that we know for sure this person has the UK variant of the virus,’ she said.
‘Evidence shows that this variant is 70 percent more infectious than other strains,’ said Dr Young. ‘This is why I’m taking this firm action swiftly, to protect our most vulnerable facilities.’
New restrictions in Brisbane
Dr Young said visitors will be restricted to aged care, hospitals, disability services and corrections facilities, and these restrictions are imposed immediately.
‘These restrictions apply to the Metro North, Metro South and West Moreton Hospital and Health Service regions,’ she said.
‘And as always, anyone with any symptoms should come forward for testing immediately and isolate until they receive the results – especially anyone in Brisbane.’
Queensland Health advice is that anyone who has been to the locations below – regardless of whether they have symptoms or not – should get tested and isolate until they receive their result.
Critically, even if a negative test result is received, please continue to monitor for symptoms and get retested if necessary.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row. An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market. The lab-leak theory that Covid-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology – instead of a nearby wet market – was thrashed about in public recently, with the US Senate Homeland Security Committee holding a hearing into Covid-19. Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week. COVID-19 reversed earlier trends toward longer life expectancies. During the pandemic, life expectancies globally dropped by 1.6 years according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal. Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day. The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing. Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September. SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU.
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